News Release



For further information please contact: Corporal Al Nothum

(314) 340-4000

C010409

07-21-04



EMPHASIS: Static Fires At Gas Pumps



Static electricity is an electric charge caused by an imbalance of electrons on the surface of materials, commonly caused by friction.



One of the most common causes of static electricity occcurs on cool or cold dry days when exiting or re-entering a vehicle while in the process of refueling. There is the potential for enough static electricity to build up and discharge, igniting the fuel vapors around the fill spout when the fuel nozzle is touched causing a fire. Once the vapors ignite, the fire will spread if the nozzle is pulled out, and continue until the fuel supply is shut off.



In most cases, minor injuries and property damage have occurred, although serious injuries, major property damage and death have been reported when the nozzle is removed after the fire has begun. The friction between your clothing and the car seat create a static charge; this initial charge is usually dissipated several times before the fueling process begins. A new static charge is created when you re-enter the vehicle. If no metal is touched before handling the nozzle, the static charge can ignite the vapors.



There have been 175 static fires reported since 1992, most of those since 1998. It is believed the electronics in newer vehicles contribute to this phenomenon. Of the fires reported, 50 percent of the cases involved the person getting back into the vehicle, while the gas was still flowing into the gas tank. Women were at greater risk because of the synthetic material in their clothing, of which 78 percent of these incidents happened to women. If you MUST get in your vehicle while the gas is pumping, make sure you get out, close the door, and TOUCH THE METAL, before you ever pull the nozzle out. This way the static from your body will be discharged before you remove the nozzle.



PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES



1. Turn off your vehicle

2. DO NOT re-enter your vehicle

3. DO NOT use electronic devices (cell phones, computers) when refueling, cellular phones can ignite fumes.

4. Use only the refueling latch on the nozzle, not the cap or other objects to jam the lever open

5. If a fire occurs at the fueling port, DO NOT pull the nozzle out......go for help



On February 4, 2004, Shawn McVey was at Rudy’s 66 gas station, in Adrian, Missouri, while a female was filling her van with gasoline. A spark caused the gasoline fumes to ignite and spread to the female’s clothing. She ran into the store for assistance as Mr. McVey was exiting the building. Mr. McVey removed his sweatshirt and covered the female with it to extinguish the flames on her clothes. The female told him that her baby was in the van, which was now on fire.



Mr. McVey ran to the van and tried to open the door. The door was locked, so he punched the side window glass of the van out. Mr. McVey removed the child from the vehicle. As Mr. McVey was doing this, the flames were going up his own pant legs.



Mr. Michael McVey of Butler, Missouri, will be awarded an Honorary Trooper Award for his act of heroism. He will receive the award on July 28, 2004, at the Butler Rotary luncheon.